Promised to the Crusader by Anne Herries

Author:Anne Herries [Herries, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781472004062
Publisher: HarlequinUKLtd
Published: 2013-03-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The evening was well advanced when Elaine left her place at the high board to return to her chamber. Zander had whispered to her that it was time.

‘Go now, my love, before it becomes too rowdy. The men have drunk well and their tongues grow loose. I shall follow in a while—and do not worry, I shall come alone.’

Elaine nodded. She had wondered about the bedding ceremony, which some men insisted on. It was humiliating for the bride, for in some cases the groom’s guests and friends insisted on being shown proof of the bride’s virginity and the groom would toss out the sheet with her blood on it to those who waited near the door. Zander would spare her such heavy jesting and she went happily to her own chamber. His friends might come as far as the door, but then he would send them away.

She allowed her ladies to help her disrobe, and dress her in a fine, silken night-chemise. Her hair was brushed and allowed to flow freely down her back and then her ladies departed. Elaine walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge. She was nervous now and did not want to lie in her bed too soon lest she fall asleep.

She waited, listening for sounds from below in the hall. They were growing less and less and now it was quiet. She sat up straighter, expecting Zander would come, but the time passed and still he did not come to her. Her eyes were growing heavy. She crawled up the bed and lay against the pillows, determined not to give in to the urge to sleep.

Why did he not come to her? Her eyes would hardly keep open now. It must be almost morning? Where was he? Was it his intention to leave her waiting all night in vain?

Exhausted by the events of the day, Elaine’s eyes closed and soon she was sleeping. She did not wake when Zander entered the room just before dawn sent fingers of rose through the sky. He bent over her sleeping figure, pulled a coverlet over her and smiled, then bent to kiss her cheek. Then he placed a beautiful, late-blooming rose and a note by her pillow before turning to leave the room.

Elaine woke later than usual. She frowned as she sat up and stretched. Why had her ladies not woken her?

Of course, they imagined that she had spent the night making love. As she moved from the bed, the small piece of parchment and the rose fell to the ground. She bent to pick them up and saw the letter was in Zander’s hand, recognising it because of the document he had given her containing her wedding settlement. Elaine had not bothered to read it for she knew he would have provided for her if something should happen.

God forbid! She felt coldness at the nape of her neck as she broke the seal. Zander had written:

Forgive me, my dear wife, I could

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